Apollofirst - Hampshire Classic Amsterdam, The Netherlands

As capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam has held a prominent position since the second half of the sixteenth century. Situated in the powerful province of Holland, the city established itself as a transitional point between both trade and politics. 

Amsterdam revolves around people. People, big and small, large and petite, young and old, rich and poor. Amsterdam, city on the water, sparkles. And, Amsterdam breathes art and culture.

There’s one thing you’ll never do in Amsterdam: be bored. For the rest almost anything is possible. Amsterdam and its inhabitants offer plenty. The city is extremely diverse and tolerant. Throughout the centuries, it is because of this tolerance that Amsterdam has been able to flourish on both an economical and cultural scale.

Amsterdam is one in its diversity. The city has something for everyone. In the historical centre there are countless monuments. The museums, with art by Masters such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh, appeal to enormous numbers of visitors each year. There are beautiful walks possible through the many patios and historical courtyards. And the various boroughs such as the Jordaan with its famous nine streets and de Pijp with its Albert Cuyp market are worth walking around.

For others Amsterdam is primarily the city of freedom and liberal drug policies. The Red light district is one of the largest attractions for many foreign visitors. Also the coffeeshops, where cannabis can be used unpunished, are extremely popular. Amsterdam is known as the Gay Capital of Europe and attracts many gay tourists.

The economy is flourishing and the city is still the unchallenged cultural centre of the Netherlands. There are countless orchestras, ballet- and theatre performances and galleries. In the past decades tourism has become an increasingly important benchmark for the Amsterdam economy. Amsterdam welcomes around four million visitors annually.

Amsterdam faces many challenges in the 21st century. An increasing number of people will have to live and work in a limited urban space. The development of housing facilities, infrastructure and the economy will require great input and investments in the coming decades. The new Amsterdam is a multicultural society, in which numerous ethnical groups will find a home. The future of the city is highly dependent upon the manner in which this process of integration will take shape.